Best Songs of the Week

With so much good music, it's easy to miss some of the best. To help prevent this, we've rounded up the best new songs of the week. This week we've got new albums from Travis Scott, YG, and an assortment of new music you can't afford to skip, in no particular order.

ASTROWORLD is another staggering achievement for Travis Scott. He's managed to meet massive expectations, pulling off the near impossible task of the mid-career reinvention: the new album incorporates novel elements into his signature sound, adding fresh voices and a newfound penchant for acoustic instrumentation to his tool kit.

"ASTROTHUNDER" starts like many a Trav classic: growling 808s and menacing, sparse percussion. But by song's end, he's conducting an orchestra, one that includes basslines from Thundercat and contributions from Frank Dukes, Frank Ocean collaborator Vegyn and John Mayer. It's buried 11 songs deep, but "ASTROTHUNDER" is an album highlight.—Graham Corrigan

Since 2013’s Watching Movies With the Sound Off, Mac Miller has been on an inward journey, looking to find self-worth and atone for past mistakes. That search has taken several sonic forms, from the triumphant GO:OD AM to the celestial The Divine Feminine to the murky and surreal Faces. “2009,” off Mac’s new record Swimming, feels like not only a synthesis of those different sounds, but also the culmination of his life and career to this point. Beginning with delicate strings and piano, the track has the grandeur of old school Hollywood cinema, and when the subtle snaps and kick drums come in to provide structure for the verses it still feels heavenly.

What makes Mac’s struggles so captivating is that he never veers into the "tortured genius" mentality that can foster a disconnect between the artist and their listener. On the second verse of “2009,” he raps: “See me and you, we ain't that different / I struck the fuck out and then I came back swingin' / Take my time to finish, mind my business / A life ain't a life 'til you live it,” offering wisdom culled from an adult life spent largely in the public eye. These are topics Mac will surely continue to explore, but as the twinkling bells and keys fade on the outro, it does feel like Mac has achieved a sense of wholeness that he’s spent years seeking.—Grant Rindner

I love it when a plan comes together! Shoutout to Yours Truly's Songs From Scratch series—they got Clairo and Cuco in a room together, and the resulting “Drown” is a irresistibly squishy hit. Clairo’s sulky, subdued couplets are the yin to Cuco’s angsty yang, a late summer anthem for the humid youth.

It's especially exciting to watch the song in the making—Cuco sounds especially heated on this one, even if he's usually grinning onscreen. The intro would make Kanye proud, but the bouncy, to production keeps the trance intact. Needless to say, we'll be needing more from these two.—Graham Corrigan

Watch our video profile with Cuco here.

Damn, this beat got bass. YG and DJ Mustard continue their partnership on the former's new album, Stay Dangerous, and it slaps from front to back. YG has always had an engaging personality and the obstacles he's overcome give him a confidence that shines through in his music, but the moments of self-awareness and honesty are often the most powerful in his music. On the whole Stay Dangerous is a celebration of success that cements YG as a star, and "666" is just one bass-heavy highlight.—Alex Gardner

Virginia-born singer Marco McKinnis is building slowly and sustainably, taking his time to release the best music possible, rather than flooding feeds and timelines with endless content. Marco is making classic leaning R&B, and his wonderfully soulful voice is his best asset—rich, full, and instantly engaging on "CPR." With features on Rex Orange County and DJDS albums, McKinnis has been hard at work, but now it's time for him to come to the fore as a solo artist again.—Alex Gardner

Freddie Gibbs’ Freddie was an all-out assault of baritone bravado and bass-heavy beats that felt like it left dirt under your fingernails. It’d be fair to expect Gibbs to coast for a minute after putting out one of the strongest projects of his career, but he proves on “Burn Rubber” that he clearly has plenty left in the tank. The production, handled by The Colleagues, is brutally efficient, the melody a single synth line peeking out from behind the bass. Equal parts paranoid hustler’s polemic and chest-pounding technical exercise, “Burn Rubber” is a testament to Gangsta Gibbs’ extended prime.—Grant Rindner

Mura Masa and NAO's collaborative relationship goes back to 2015's excellent "Firefly," which was a big moment in their respective career's. They reunite for "Complicated," Mura Masa's second single of 2018, following his brilliant track with Octavian, "Move Me." At the heart of the British producer's skill is his ability to bring the best out of vocalists without losing his own identity, and "Complicated" is a bouncy pop love song made in his and NAO's image.—Alex Gardner

Michigan-based singer/rapper/producer Choker came out of nowhere last year to deliver one of 2017's best albums, and with Honeybloom he's only further refined his craft. The centerpiece of the album, "Rocket," is the biggest indication of just how far his growth has taken him since PEAK. Split into two distinct halves, "Rocket" sets up a lot of ambition in its six-minute running time, but how it sticks the landing is what makes it the most immediate highlight of an incredibly expansive record.—Joe Price